Environmental activists in the Balkans are organizing a series of protests called Action Weeks for Balkan Rivers from July 6 to July 16, 2019, to highlight the environmental damage caused by hydro-power plants. Protests will take place in the capitals of Albania, Serbia, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Slovenia, Bosnia, and Greece. Ulrich Eichelmann, one of the organizers, emphasized the unique biodiversity of Balkan rivers and the presence of 113 endangered fish species. The protests aim to address the lack of communication between environmentalists and political leaders. Despite the widespread use of hydro-power and plans for thousands of new projects, NGOs like Bankwatch have raised concerns about the environmental impact, even from small plants, and have called for increased monitoring and restoration measures.

The District Court in Banja Luka has annulled the environmental permit for the Buk Bijela hydropower plant on the Drina River in Bosnia after a successful complaint by the Aarhus Resource Center. The permit, renewed in May 2018, was cancelled due to Elektroprivreda Republike Srpske's failure to request a renewal within the legal deadline and because construction had not started within four years of the initial permit. The project faced opposition due to its potential impact on the protected Tara Canyon in Montenegro, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Montenegrin officials, including then Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic, have been against the project to protect the Tara River Canyon.

Bosnia and Herzegovina is in the process of forming new governments after elections, with the Alliance for the Better Future of Bosnia and the Party of Democratic Action announcing a coalition agreement. The SDA has support from two parties, SBB and DF. An agreement was made for the new Council of Ministers to be led by a Bosnian Serb, with ministries divided among Bosniaks, Serbs, and Croats. The formation of a new government is stalled over the activation of Bosnia's NATO Membership Action Plan, which is supported by Bosniak and Croat politicians but opposed by Bosnian Serb leaders.

The Bosnian Prosecutors Office has initiated an investigation into Dragan Mektic, the Bosnian Security Minister, for allegedly abusing his authority, disclosing confidential information, and providing false testimony. Mektic has dismissed the allegations as nonsense and criticized the prosecution for being corrupt and not focusing on serious organized crime. The conflict between Mektic and Chief Prosecutor Gordana Tadic dates back to 2017, with Mektic denying Tadic's claim of being monitored and accusing her office of corruption. The article also references Mektic's previous criticisms of the state prosecution's ability to investigate claims of Croatian intelligence activities and the formation of a paramilitary group in Bosnia.

Bosnia's first-ever Pride Parade is set to take place on September 8 in Sarajevo, with activists announcing the event at a press conference. Dragan Covic, head of the Croatian Democratic Union in Bosnia, expressed his support for the parade and diversity. The country, which decriminalized being gay in 1998, has previously experienced violence during attempts to organize public LGBT events. However, attitudes are changing in the region, with Pride events in neighbouring countries and Kosovo's first Pride march in 2017, attended by President Hashim Thaci.

Nationalist leaders Milorad Dodik, Bakir Izetbegovic, and Dragan Covic in Bosnia have agreed to initiate negotiations for establishing a new Council of Ministers, following a five-month post-election deadlock. They have decided on the distribution of ministries and are working on a programme based on ten principles. The EU is urging Bosnia to expedite government formation to continue essential reforms for EU membership. The Central Election Commission resolved a legal issue regarding the election of the Federation entity's parliament, which was challenged by the SDA party but not ruled on by the Constitutional Court. The Federation formed a new parliament in February. The HDZ BiH party is insisting on a new electoral law as a precondition for government formation. The three leaders have been dominant figures in their respective ethnic political spheres for years.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is expected to draw tens of thousands to a rally in Sarajevo ahead of Turkey's elections on May 20. Supporters are arriving in Sarajevo, boosting local businesses such as hotels and car rental agencies. Hotel Boutique Saraybosna and other accommodations are fully booked, and car rental prices have surged due to high demand. Erdogan's visit coincides with the sixth assembly meeting of the Union of European Turkish Democrats and its sister organization in Bosnia, the Union of European Balkan Democrats. The rally is seen as a strategic move by Erdogan, as some European countries have banned his party's demonstrations. The event is expected to attract Turks from Europe, local Muslim communities, and ethnic Turks from the region, with significant participation anticipated from Macedonia.